Attachment assembly for securing trim material to the padding of a ventilated seat

ABSTRACT

A ventilated vehicle seat includes one of a seat back and a seat cushion having an air transmission channel therethrough. Upholstery covers the one of a seat back and a seat cushion. An air permeable spacer layer is disposed between the one of a seat back and a seat cushion and the upholstery, and the air permeable spacer layer is in fluid communication with the air transmission channel. An air permeable tie-down strap connects the upholstery to the one of a seat back and a seat cushion.

BACKGROUND

Various embodiments of an attachment assembly are described herein. Inparticular, the embodiments described herein relate to an improvedattachment assembly for securing the seat trim to the seat padding intrench attachment applications in a ventilated vehicle seat.

Ventilated vehicle seats can include a frame to support the seat and tomount it to a vehicle, padding to cover the frame and made, for example,of foam material, an air permeable spacer layer, and an outer layer ofupholstery. The upholstery may be attached to the padding and/or theframe by any known attachment assembly, such as a trench attachmentapplication. It would be desirable to provide an improved attachmentassembly for securing the seat upholstery to the seat padding in trenchattachment applications in a ventilated vehicle seat.

SUMMARY

The present application describes various embodiments of a ventilatedvehicle seat. One embodiment of the ventilated vehicle seat includes oneof a seat back and a seat cushion having an air transmission channeltherethrough. Upholstery covers the one of a seat back and a seatcushion. An air permeable spacer layer is disposed between the one of aseat back and a seat cushion and the upholstery, and the air permeablespacer layer is in fluid communication with the air transmissionchannel. An air permeable tie-down strap connects the upholstery to theone of a seat back and a seat cushion.

Other advantages of the ventilated vehicle seat will become apparent tothose skilled in the art from the following detailed description, whenread in light of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view, partially in section, of avehicle seat having an improved upholstery attachment assembly.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one embodiment of the improvedupholstery attachment assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the line 2-2 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross sectional view of the vehicle seat takenalong the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 aschematic perspective view of a portion of a ventilated vehicle seatassembly, indicated generally at 10. The illustrated vehicle seatassembly 10 includes padding or a molded foam seat cushion 12, and amolded foam seat back 14. The vehicle seat assembly is structured andconfigured for mounting to a vehicle floor (not shown).

The seat cushion 12 and seat back 14 include a flexible trim material orupholstery 16. The upholstery 16 may be constructed of any desiredmaterial, such as natural or synthetic fabric or leather.

The seat cushion 12 may also include a cushion portion 13 and an airpermeable spacer layer 18 disposed between the cushion portion 13 andthe upholstery 16. Although the exemplary embodiment of the seatassembly 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 shows one spacer layer 18, it will beunderstood that more than one layers of spacer layer 18 may be provided.The air permeable spacer layer 18 may be formed from any suitablematerial that allows air to flow through the spacer layer 18, asdescribed in detail below. For example, the spacer layer 18 may beformed from polyester fleece, reticulated foam, or woven material.Alternatively, the spacer layer 18 may be formed from any materialhaving a relatively high air permeability, allowing air to flow in alldirections

In the illustrated embodiment, the spacer layer 18 is within the rangeof from about five mm to about 14 mm thick. In another embodiment, thespacer layer 18 is within the range of from about four mm to about 24 mmthick. Alternatively, the spacer layer 18 may be any desired thickness.It will be understood that the optimum thickness for the spacer layer 18will only be determined by routine experimentation and by consideringthe space available and the required air flow performance. The spacerlayer 18 may be as thick as possible, and comprise as many layers of airpermeable material as possible, so as to maximize the movement of airand the cooling of the seat cushion 12 and/or seat back 14. The spacerlayer 18 may be attached to the seat cushion by 12 any desired means,such as for example with an adhesive or with hook-and-loop fasteners. Itwill be understood that no such attachment means are required.

The seat cushion 12 may also include one or more air transmissionchannels 20. Such an air transmission channel 20 may extend between afan 22, as best shown in FIG. 2 to the spacer layer 18. It will beunderstood that any desired number of channels 20 may be formed in thecushion portion 13. Additionally, any desired number of channels 20 maybe provided in the seat cushion 12.

If desired, an additional layer 24 may be disposed between the spacerlayer 18 and the upholstery 16. For example, the additional layer 24 maybe a heater mat. Alternatively, the additional layer 24 may be a secondcushion or trim pad, which may be manufactured from a flexible foammaterial. Although the exemplary embodiment of the seat assembly 10illustrated in FIG. 2 shows one additional layer 24, it will beunderstood that more than one additional layer 24 may be provided. Theadditional layer 24 may be attached to the spacer layer 18 by anydesired means, such as for example with an adhesive or withhook-and-loop fasteners. It will be understood that no such attachmentmeans are required.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the upholstery 16 and adjacent spacer layer 18are divided into a plurality of subsections/portions or panels, such asfor example the panels 26 and 28, wherein the panels 26 and 28 arejoined together by stitching 30 and define a seam 32 therebetween, suchas between the panels 26 and 28 shown in FIG. 2. As shown in theexemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the upholstery 16 and thespacer layer 18 of adjacent panels 26 and 28 are joined together by thestitching 30. In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, thestitching 30 is arranged above a trench 34.

The seat assembly 10 further includes an air permeable tie-down strap36, illustrated in FIG. 3. The tie-down strap 36 includes an elongatedanchor portion 38 and an elongated body portion 40. In the illustratedembodiment, the body portion 40 is formed from a plastic mesh. It willbe understood however, that the body portion 40 may be formed from anysuitable material such as for example, woven, non-woven, and knittedmaterial. The body portion 40 may also be formed from any desiredmaterial having sufficient perforations or apertures formed through bodyportion 40 to ensure a desired volume of air to flow through the bodyportion 40. The tie-down strap 36 may have any desired length L. Thebody portion 40 and the anchor portion 38 may be formed of differentmaterials and may have any desired cross sectional shape.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the tie-down strap 36 may be suitablyattached between the panels 26 and 28 at the seam 32. The tie-down strap36 may be attached by any suitable means, such as by sewing, withadhesive, or with mechanical fasteners. The tie-down strap 36 may beattached between the panels 26 and 28 such that a portion H2 of theheight H1 extends outwardly (downwardly when viewing FIG. 2) of the seam32 and toward a bottom of the trench 34. The portion H2 of the height H1of the tie-down strap 36 which extends outwardly of the seam 32 towardthe bottom of the trench 34 advantageously allows air to freely flowthrough the spacer layer 18, through the trench 34, and through thetie-down strap 36.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the fan 22 is positioned topull air from the vehicle cabin (as shown by the arrows 44), through thespacer layer 18 (as shown by the arrows 46), through the trench 34 andthe tie-down strap 36 (as shown by the arrows 48), through the channels20 (as shown by the arrows 50), and into the vehicle cabin below theseat assembly 10 (as shown by the arrows 52). It will be understood thatif desired, the fan 22 may also be structured, configured, andpositioned to push air from the lower portion of the seat assembly 10 toand through the upholstery 16. Additionally, any desired number of fans22 may be used, such as for example, two or more fans 22.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the seat assembly 10 with avehicle occupant sitting thereon, the occupant thereby covering aportion of the Aside surface 12A of the seat cushion 12. Advantageously,because of the use of the tie-down strap 34 in the trench 34, air maytravel freely throughout the spacer layer 18 when a vehicle occupant issitting on the seat assembly 10. Specifically, as shown in theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the fan 22 pulls air from the vehiclecabin (as shown by the arrows 44), through the upholstery 16 of theside-bolster portions 12B of the seat cushion 12 and into the spacerlayer 18 (as shown by the arrows 46). The air then travels through thetrench 34 and the tie-down strap 36 (as shown by the arrows 48), throughthe channels 20 (as shown by the arrows 50), and into the vehicle cabinbelow the seat assembly 10 (as shown by the arrows 52).

As best shown in FIG. 2, the tie-down strap 36 is attached to the seatcushion 12 by an anchor 42. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, theanchor 42 is embedded in the cushion portion 13, such as by beingintegrally molded therewith, in a lower portion of the trench 34. Itwill be understood that the anchor 42 may be mounted or attached to theseat cushion 12 by any desired method, and may be mounted or attachedafter the cushion portion 13 has been formed.

The anchor 42 is further attached to the tie-down strap 36 about theanchor portion 38. The anchor 42 may have any desired shape. Forexample, the illustrated anchor 42 includes a body portion 42A having asubstantially rectangular cross-sectional shape, and an anchor portion42B having a substantially T-shaped cross-sectional shape (invertedT-shape as viewed in FIG. 2). The anchor portion 42B extends outwardly(downwardly as viewed in FIG. 2) of the body portion 42A and is embeddedin the seat cushion 13. Alternatively, the anchor portion 42A may haveany other cross-sectional shape. The anchor portion 42A may alsocomprise one or more boss or rods (not shown) extending outwardly of thebody portion 42A, one or more clips (not shown), or may comprise a holeformed in the body portion 42A for receiving a means of attachment or aportion of the seat cushion 13. Additionally, the anchor 42 may beformed from any desired material, such as for example, plastic,aluminum, steel, and other desired metals and non-metals.

It will be understood that the tie-down strap 36 may be attached to theanchor 42 or may be attached directly to the cushion portion 13 by anymeans, such as for example, a hog-ring (not shown), with hook and loopfasteners (not shown), or any other suitable fasteners.

Advantageously, the seat assembly 10 is able to provide efficient andeffective cooling of the seat occupant at an improved cost relative toknown ventilated seats.

The principle and mode of operation of the improved ventilated vehicleseat have been described in its various embodiments. However, it shouldbe noted that the ventilated vehicle seat described herein may bepracticed otherwise than as specifically illustrated and describedwithout departing from its scope.

1. A ventilated vehicle seat comprising: one of a seat back and a seatcushion having an air transmission channel therethrough; upholsterycovering the one of a seat back and a seat cushion; an air permeablespacer layer disposed between the one of a seat back and a seat cushionand the upholstery, the air permeable spacer layer being in fluidcommunication with the air transmission channel; and an air permeabletie-down strap connecting the upholstery to the one of a seat back and aseat cushion.
 2. The ventilated vehicle seat according to claim 1,wherein the spacer layer is adjacent the upholstery, and wherein theupholstery and adjacent spacer layer comprise a plurality of panels,adjacent panels being joined together at a seam.
 3. The ventilatedvehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the air permeable tie-downstrap is disposed in a trench formed in the one of a seat back and aseat cushion.
 4. The ventilated vehicle seat according to claim 3,wherein the spacer layer is adjacent the upholstery, wherein theupholstery and adjacent spacer layer comprise a plurality of panels,adjacent panels being joined together at a seam, and wherein thetie-down strap has a first edge and a second edge, the first edge beingattached to the upholstery and adjacent spacer layer at the seam, thesecond edge being attached to the one of a seat back and a seat cushionwithin the trench.
 5. The ventilated vehicle seat according to claim 4,wherein a portion of the tie-down strap extends outwardly of the panelsat the seam, the outwardly extending portion of the tie-down strapdefining a flow path for air moving between adjacent panels of the airpermeable layer and through the air permeable tie-down strap.
 6. Theventilated vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein the air permeabletie-down strap defines a flow path for air moving between adjacentpanels of the air permeable layer at the seam and through the trench. 7.The ventilated vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein the airpermeable tie-down strap includes a plurality of apertures for themovement of air between adjacent panels of the air permeable layer atthe seam and through the trench.
 8. The ventilated vehicle seataccording to claim 2, wherein the tie-down strap is attached to an airpermeable panel at the seam.
 9. The ventilated vehicle seat according toclaim 8, wherein the tie-down strap is further attached within a trenchformed in the one of a seat back and a seat cushion.
 10. The ventilatedvehicle seat according to claim 1, further including a second cushionbetween the upholstery and the spacer layer.
 11. The ventilated vehicleseat according to claim 1, further including an anchor interconnecting aportion of the one of a seat back and a seat cushion and the tie-downstrap.
 12. A ventilated vehicle seat comprising: one of a seat back anda seat cushion having an air transmission channel therethrough;upholstery covering the one of a seat back and a seat cushion; an airpermeable spacer layer disposed between the one of a seat back and aseat cushion and the upholstery, the air permeable spacer layer being influid communication with the air transmission channel; and an airpermeable tie-down strap connecting the upholstery to the one of a seatback and a seat cushion; wherein the air permeable tie-down strapdefines a flow path for air moving within the spacer layer.
 13. Theventilated vehicle seat according to claim 12, wherein the air permeabletie-down strap is disposed in a trench formed in the one of a seat backand a seat cushion.
 14. The ventilated vehicle seat according to claim13, wherein the spacer layer is adjacent the upholstery, wherein theupholstery and adjacent spacer layer comprise a plurality of panels,adjacent panels being joined together at a seam, and wherein thetie-down strap has a first edge and a second edge, the first edge beingattached to the upholstery and adjacent spacer layer at the seam, thesecond edge being attached to the one of a seat back and a seat cushionwithin the trench.
 15. The ventilated vehicle seat according to claim14, wherein a portion of the tie-down strap extends outwardly of thepanels at the seam, the outwardly extending portion of the tie-downstrap defining a flow path for air moving between adjacent panels of theair permeable layer and through the air permeable tie-down strap. 16.The ventilated vehicle seat according to claim 12, further including asecond cushion between the upholstery and the spacer layer.
 17. Theventilated vehicle seat according to claim 12, further including ananchor interconnecting a portion of the one of a seat back and a seatcushion and the tie-down strap.
 18. An air permeable tie-down strap fora ventilated vehicle seat, the tie-down strap comprising a mesh bodyportion having a length and a width; wherein the ventilated vehicle seatincludes one of a seat back and a seat cushion having an airtransmission channel therethrough, upholstery covering the one of a seatback and a seat cushion, and an air permeable spacer layer disposedbetween the one of a seat back and a seat cushion and the upholstery,the air permeable spacer layer being in fluid communication with the airtransmission channel; and wherein a portion of the tie-down strap isattached to at least one of the upholstery and the spacer layer, and aportion of the tie-down strap is attached to the one of a seat back anda seat cushion, thereby connecting the at least one of the upholsteryand the spacer layer to the one of a seat back and a seat cushion. 19.The air permeable tie-down strap according to claim 18, wherein the airpermeable tie-down strap is disposed in a trench formed in the one of aseat back and a seat cushion.
 20. The air permeable tie-down strapaccording to claim 18, wherein the spacer layer is adjacent theupholstery, wherein the upholstery and adjacent spacer layer comprise aplurality of panels, adjacent panels being joined together at a seam,and wherein the tie-down strap has a first edge and a second edge, thefirst edge being attached to the upholstery and adjacent spacer layer atthe seam, the second edge being attached to the one of a seat back and aseat cushion within the trench.